it's just after 6:30 on the east coast. now it's time for some of the day's top stories. yes, it is. the s.e.c. is starting a formal investigation into the accounting practices of lehman brothers that may have been used to mask their shaky footing before the collapse. former lehman brother ceo richard fuld defended his position, saying he knew nothing of the questionable accounting. >> given all that's been -- that's been said, i would like to add that i'm very much aware that one day we had a firm, the next day we did not. and a lot of people got hurt by that. and i have to live with that. >> okay. a new gallup poll shows americans are about evenly divided. 46% to 43% on the benefit of